31,000+ enrolled in private health plans so far for 2016

With two weeks to go before the Dec. 15 deadline for full 2016 health coverage, 31,740 people have enrolled in private health plans through Maryland Health Connection as of Dec. 1.

About 71 percent, or 22,477, were enrolled in silver plans, which provide savings in the form of advance premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions for those eligible to lower their cost..

In total, 139,244 Marylanders have enrolled in coverage through the state’s health insurance marketplace since open enrollment began on Nov. 1. That includes 107,504 enrolled in Medicaid, which accepts applicants year-round.

Also, 8,880 individuals have enrolled in dental plans which are available for the first time through MarylandHealthConnection.gov for 2016. Of those, 4,022 people enrolled in dental along with a qualified health plan (QHP), 2,756 enrolled in dental along with Medicaid and 2,102 enrolled in a stand-alone dental plan.

2016 QHP enrollment by Maryland county and by region through Dec. 1, 2015

Those figures do not include roughly 100,000 people who enrolled through Maryland Health Connection in 2015 and are eligible for “passive” renewal into their same plan in January 2016.

Dec. 15 is the deadline to enroll for coverage to begin Jan. 1. Open enrollment concludes on Jan. 31 for coverage beginning March 1. Maryland Health Connection received more than 190,000 phone calls and more than 240,000 website visitors during the first month of this open enrollment.